Chapter 143: Hisoka's Little Tantrum
After waking up, Gon went to settle the score with Illumi…
But this time, one of the people who planned to accompany him to Kukuroo Mountain was missing.
Kurapika was the first to leave the team after obtaining his Hunter License,
leaving behind only a note for Leorio.
The address Haze had given Kurapika was Gram City the place where he once lived.
Upon arriving by airship, Kurapika used a map to make his way deep into a desolate mountain range.
It was the same range where Haze had once trained as a "wild man" before heading to Heavens Arena.
The next day, Kurapika brushed aside waist-high weeds and walked down a gentle slope.
Looking around, he saw lush green grass, an open landscape with no trees blocking the view.
But the first thing that caught his eye wasn't the beautiful scenery it was a man.
A man sat cross-legged on the ground, surrounded by wild beasts… wolves, a tiger or leopard, foxes, and several strange small animals.
Surprisingly, all of them just like the man lying there were resting peacefully, basking in the breeze and sunlight.
The sight was one of astonishing harmony.
But with Kurapika's arrival… a few of the fierce beasts slowly rose, letting out low, threatening growls.
Kurapika immediately tensed and took a defensive stance.
"It's fine… come closer."
At that moment, Haze stretched lazily on the ground, sat up, and smiled faintly at the blond youth.
Then, with a casual wave of his hand ...
Strangely, the wild animals seemed to understand him, dispersing and disappearing one after another.
The scene completely defied Kurapika's understanding.
"Is this… the power you mentioned before the ability called Nen?" Kurapika asked, stepping forward cautiously.
"No," Haze replied lazily.
"How long? How long will it take me to acquire this Nen ability?" Kurapika asked urgently.
"With me here, it'll be fast. Under normal circumstances, you'd need half a year, maybe a few months…
But I can cut that time down drastically and at the same time, help you develop your own trump card."
Haze removed his sunglasses calmly.
"Where's Hisoka?" Kurapika asked, glancing around.
By now, he already knew Hisoka's true identity and his connection to the Phantom Troupe.
"Wasn't he one of the participants in the game?"
"Mm… He's already gone back."
"What?" Kurapika's expression changed. "Did you tell him?"
"No. I didn't need to he handled it himself," Haze said indifferently.
"You trust him that much? Aren't you afraid he'll betray you or expose our plan?"
"I don't trust him!" Kurapika's face darkened.
"Don't worry. You don't understand… In this game, his desire to participate is even greater than yours.
He simply enjoys causing trouble he's a real headache."
Even if Haze explained, Kurapika wouldn't really understand.
There was a saying Moritonio once used to describe Hisoka, and it couldn't have been more accurate:
A childlike innocence… not the naive kind, but that of a mischievous brat who loves pranks and chaos.
And mixed into that, a touch of morbid insanity his mental state was never entirely stable.
Haze changed the subject. "Alright, let's begin your training… Are you prepared to die?"
"Of course," Kurapika replied coldly.
"Good."
…
Meanwhile, at the hotel where the Phantom Troupe was staying,
Shalnark was on the phone with Hisoka. "The Hunter Exam's over, right?"
"Yeah."
"Now that you've got your license, why haven't you come back?"
"I'm nearby close to the hotel." Hisoka's voice was playful and unnerving.
"What do you mean?"
The call was on speaker, so everyone in the room could hear clearly.
"He's back then why isn't he here?"
Chrollo reached out and took the phone from Shalnark, holding it to his ear calmly.
"Hisoka…"
"I'm here."
"Did you do something bad?"
"Hmm… a little, but not too much." Hisoka's voice made Chrollo narrow his eyes slightly, though his expression remained composed.
At that moment, several kilometers from the hotel, Hisoka sat in the middle of a bustling street,
right in front of a juice shop, sipping a drink casually.
He held his phone in one hand and stirred the liquid with a straw in the other.
"But don't worry… I did see Haze, but I didn't reveal anything."
"…Suddenly, I feel like I've been set up," Hisoka continued with a grin. "I'm a little upset."
"…"
"Chrollo… that man is just as they said not only strong but terrifying. Killing him won't be easy!
Originally, I wanted to find a way to get in touch with him…
But after confirming how dangerous he is, I suddenly understood your intentions."
"This really makes me feel awful… Aren't you worried I might die by his hands?
Even though I haven't been with the Phantom Troupe for long,
I've always thought it was quite fun being with you guys…
I risked my life to report everything I'd seen, and this is how you treat me?"
Hisoka tapped his toes playfully, his face smiling but his tone resentful.
"If you're fine, then the probability of something going wrong is zero," Chrollo said calmly.
"But… your actions gave away your thoughts.
If I'm not mistaken, you plan to have Pakunoda test me again, don't you?"
"…"
Chrollo stayed silent.
"See… this distrust feels like another knife pointed at me.
Should I start thinking about leaving?
I'm very unhappy… extremely unhappy!"
"Oh, and you should be able to guess I can't guarantee what I'll do when I'm unhappy.
For example, maybe I'll tell someone everything about my time with you…
After all, I'm a Hunter now contacting him wouldn't be too hard."
"What do you want me to do?" Chrollo asked evenly.
"Apologize to me," Hisoka said after a pause in a tone as childish as a spoiled kid.
"I'm sorry," Chrollo said immediately, without hesitation.
"I forgive you," Hisoka replied maliciously then told him his location.
After hanging up, Chrollo sat silently, deep in thought.
"Is something wrong with Hisoka?" Shizuku asked. "What's his deal?"
"No. If something were truly wrong, he'd probably pretend nothing happened and return to the hotel.
After all, revealing his true emotions like this wouldn't benefit him we'd only execute him.
This reaction makes more sense it's just his frustration at realizing he was used as bait.
If we'd told him the truth from the start, he wouldn't have reacted like this.
It's precisely because we hid it that he feels this rejection and suspicion."
"And that emotion actually proves his innocence.
He understands the leader's intentions if he were working with Haze, he'd already be dead.
He's on his own.
During the Hunter Exam, he even told Haze about us about this hotel.
If the Field family were still acting, they'd have attacked us long ago."
"Hehehe…" Shalnark chuckled. "Hisoka's just throwing a tantrum!"
"That's just how he is nothing unusual about it," Machi added.
Among all the Troupe members, she had spent the most time with Hisoka and knew him best.
Everyone agreed Hisoka was insane.
Sometimes, his thoughts were impossible to predict, his motives difficult to understand.
Truthfully, aside from Machi who was somewhat close to him ...
the rest of the Phantom Troupe didn't really like Hisoka.
He always seemed… out of place.
Yet undeniably, he was a powerful and reliable comrade.
"Leader, should we continue the test?" Pakunoda asked Chrollo.
Given the situation, if they tested Hisoka again, their relationship might completely collapse.
Besides, the leader had already apologized.
Would it be worth the risk possibly losing a member, even if Hisoka was innocent?
"Let's see how he reacts," Chrollo said.
"We'll go to him."
…
"Another one, please."
Meanwhile, Hisoka still sitting there pointed to his empty glass.
"Uh… sure," said the barista quickly, bringing him another.
Hisoka rested his chin on his hand and sipped lazily through the straw,
watching people walk down the street with a strangely content smile.
He never used to like fruit juice,
but before the Hunter Exam, he often drank it with Haze.
And that had made him realize… fruit juice wasn't so bad after all.
(End of Chapter)